The Catacombs: Life and Death in Early Christianity

Ancient Peoples and Places

by James Stevenson

The history of the catacombs is parallel to the history of early Christianity itself. And James Stevenson traces this crucial era with precision, bringing to light facts which are often misinterpreted or shrouded in legend. (The catacombs, for example, were not sanctuaries for the persecuted faithful.) In this study, we are able to perceive an accurate portrait of the lives - and deaths - of those who participated in the formation of the Church. Stevenson looks at how and why the catacombs were constructed, explores the evolution of these burial sites over the centuries, and shows how they tell of their builders' motives and beliefs. He also explains how the artwork found in these crypts reveals the strong scriptural influences on the fledgling Church. The Catacombs makes fascinating reading for lay person and scholar alike. Its wealth of information is combined with 144 illustrations to comprise an exhaustive yet concise survey of an epochal period in early Christianity. --- from book's back cover

Genres: History, Church History, Nonfiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1978

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at early Roman Christianity via artwork in the catacombs. Photos of murals and inscriptions. Of course, I found artwork that interprets the Bible especially interesting. For example, a favorite topic is the Good Shepherd -- I think because a lot of these Christians viewed themselves as wandering sinners -- whether due to apostasy during persecution or simply due to the fact that they often gave into their vices -- whose hope for the afterlife was that Christ would rescue them.